Heritage Day 2012 - we are moving away from win-win solutions

The challenge in South Africa is to find win-win solutions in the instances where there are differences and clashes between different communities as to how their cultural heritage should be given recognition. Look in Brussels, Belgium and in Switzerland how room is made for everybody in a win-win manner. That is why there should be room for Pretoria and Tshwane, Tlokwe and Potchefstroom, Freedom Park and the Voortrekker Monument.

The current approach where the heritage of one community continuously has to make way for another community does not resolve problems but creates new ones. The removal of the Afrikaans and English sections from our national anthem as proposed by Popcru is another example of this which only leads to further mudding of relationships and does not contribute to a shared heritage.

Heritage Day was established as an opportunity to give recognition to the rich diversity of cultures and heritage that we have in South Africa. If the day is celebrated in the correct way, it will lead to greater respect and understanding for each other. Through this, the diversity of South Africa becomes a positive asset and not a burden and a source of conflict.

"If some communities however feel that their heritage, history and heroes are being pressurised, are regarded to be inferior or are ignored, the opposite will be accomplished," Dr. Pieter Mulder. The Leader of the Freedom Front Plus said on Heritage Day.

There is only one solution for these problems: let us respect each other's cultures, let us respect each other's heritage and let us make room for each other's heroes.

Statement issued by Dr. Pieter Mulder, FF Plus Leader, September 24 2012

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